THE notion that a canine year is the equivalent of seven human years has long seemed curiously out of kilter. Whilst humans - the male of the species, anyway - still shuffle painfully beyond their allotted three score years and ten, the doggy world on the basis of that seven times table has more centenarians than the Australian cricket team.

We mention all this in acknowledgment of Sam, a border collie cross - crossed with what they have never been able to ascertain - belonging to the Rt Rev John Packer, Bishop of Ripon and Leeds.

Bishop Packer is 55, a man in full episcopal vigour. Sam, rescued from the RSPCA in Sheffield, is 14 going on 105, active life so greatly prolonged that he could be an animadvertisement for Doggydins.

There are hundreds like him. Unless knocked down by a number nine bus, the average dog may consider itself awfully unlucky not to reach three figures.

Sam is also an early riser. Every morning, the Bishop told his congregation on Sunday, the dog attends morning prayer in the private chapel at Ripon with him and his wife and every morning reacts with mounting, tail-wagging excitement when they reach the grace.

"When grace is over it's time to go and, with luck, for people to play with him," said Bishop Packer. "I suppose that for us the grace arouses the same feelings. We've got to the end of the service and we can go home."

Probably it is often true. Those who pray for the grace to guillotine proceedings as mercifully as the final whistle on a mediocre match should, however, have been in Low Row parish church last Sunday.

The service ran for 75 minutes. Had it lasted twice as long, few would have sloped off to the Punch Bowl next door or longed for the last amen. Chorally vibrant, liturgically relevant and environmentally magnificent, it was village church worship at its coruscating best - the hills alive with the sound of music.

Low Row is in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, second hamlet beyond Reeth. Holy Trinity is one of four churches in the care of the Rev Tim Tunley, who cycles between them when time allows and has a large range of machines upon which to expend his undoubted energy.

Consecrated in 1841, lead mining's years of plenty, Holy Trinity is the youngest and perhaps the least elaborate of the four. The short guide describes its architecture as "modest", the windows as "plain" and the interior as "simple", though perhaps it means simply lovely. At the back sit shelves of well-thumbed books of what the Victorians used to call the "improving" variety.

The approach is reminiscent of the steep and rugged pathway of the hymn, however, an elderly lady ascending it with much difficulty. "I always give myself an extra ten minutes," she said, but doubtless trod rejoicingly.

The church has recently been refurbished and redecorated - "101 little jobs," said the Vicar - to great effect. The walls are white, the furnishings simple, the views across the dale (for those cunning enough to sit by the window) stupendous.

It was both Trinity Sunday and the weekend on which the two week Swaledale Festival, ever ambitious, began. Since this year they even have a "theologian in residence" - at least for a fortnight - the Bishop's visit could hardly have been more appropriately timed. The dog, sadly, had been left guarding the house.

All four congregations helped fill the church to near capacity, a surprising number of late arrivals as if just finished milking the cows.

The combined choir began with an anthem to one of Mr Purcell's happiest tunes; from the five Glorias on a separate sheet they chose the one to the tune of Thine Be the Glory. It was going to be a splendid morning. The Bishop preached for 12 compelling minutes on the familiar words of the blessing, the Grace of God, adding that Holy Trinity was open to all - "or at any rate all who can climb the steps to get into it".

Organist and organ - something from the Positive Organ Company, apparently - were lively, congregation friendly.

Afterwards there was coffee and biscuits, Bishop Packer clearly having mastered the episcopal art of eating and greeting simultaneously. His pet no longer went to church meetings, he confided, because he tended to wander off. In church meetings, don't we all?

No one hurried homewards, nor even to the Punch Bowl. As Mr Humphrey Bogart almost observed, Play it again, Sam.

l Many Swaledale Festival events are held this weekend, including a seven and a half mile walk with Elaine Storkey - the theologian in residence - leaving Reeth bus shelter at 10am today. Adults £4, children free.

Centred on Grinton, where many gardens will be open, tomorrow's events include Songs of Praise in Reeth Methodist Church (10.30am), Festival Choral Evensong in St Andrew's, Grinton (4pm) and a 7.30pm concert in St Andrew's by Reeth Brass Band.

The Swaledale Festival office is on 01969 622217. The Rev Tim Tunley is on 01748 884706.